2002-2003 Graduation Requirements

Academic Catalogs

Academic Degrees and Certificates

General requirements for graduation are included in this chapter of the catalog. The curriculum and specific requirements for each program are listed in the subsequent chapters for the five schools and colleges of the University: Arts and Sciences, Business, Health Sciences, Technology, and New College. Each student is responsible for both the general requirements in this chapter and the specific requirements for his or her chosen program of study.

Clayton State offers several types of academic degrees and certificates:

Baccalaureate degrees: Depending on the major of the graduate, the baccalaureate degree will be a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (B.S.D.H.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Information Technology (B.I.T.), or a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.). Baccalaureates take four years of full-time study or longer for part-time enrollment. Unless otherwise stated, all upper division courses in baccalaureate degree programs require a minimum grade of C.

Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees: The Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees are designed as the first two years of work (core curriculum) for baccalaureate degrees (except the B.A.S., B.I.T. or R.N.-B.S.N. track). The transfer-focused associate degree is available in many fields from Art to Sociology. This wide range of programs of study, mostly in the School of Arts and Sciences, gives students the opportunity to spend their freshman and sophomore years at Clayton State even when the University does not have a major in their chosen baccalaureate field. (Clayton State University does not offer the A.A. or A.S. in fields for which the University offers the bachelor’s degree.) Transfer to another college or university in Georgia is facilitated by the University System's Core Curriculum, which is listed with each program. Associate degrees can normally be completed in two years of full-time enrollment.

Applied Associate degrees: TheAssociate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) is a career-focused degree designed to prepare students with the technical and professional skills necessary to immediately enter the world of work in a chosen field. Career associate degrees contain a significant component of general education, but most of the course work is in the occupational field. Clayton State University offers career associate degrees in numerous fields. Career associate degrees usually require two years of full-time attendance. In addition to being prepared for skilled employment positions, graduates with A.A.S. degrees are eligible to pursue the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree. The A.A.S. in Information Technology (A.A.S.I.T.) is designed to lead directly to the B.I.T.

Academic certificates in career fields: Academic certificates are awarded for completion of programs of study similar to career associate degrees but with fewer courses. Clayton State offers more than a dozen certificate programs; most of the courses taken in certificate programs can later be applied to Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees, but there are certain restrictions to which students should pay close attention. All courses in the Certificate in Information Technology (C.I.T.) apply to the A.A.S.I.T.

Post-baccalaureate certificates: In certain fields such as Health Care Informatics or Not-for-Profit Service (American Humanics), students who already hold baccalaureate degrees in related fields can earn post-baccalaureate certificates.

Learning Ooutcomes

In pursuit of its core mission “to provide superior career-oriented studies that will prepare students to succeed in the world of work in the 21st Century,” Clayton State University focuses all academic programs on student learning outcomes that are identified by the Clayton State University faculty. Briefly stated, an outcome is what the University wants the student “to know and be able to do” upon graduation. The outcomes for some programs are listed in this catalog, and others are listed in materials published by the appropriate school or department. (For the full text of the University’s Mission Statement, see Chapter 1.)

Required Participation in Assessments

In order for the University to assess and improve its academic programs, regular measurements of students' perceptions and intellectual growth must be obtained. In their general education programs and major fields of study, students may be required to participate in assessments of course and/or program effectiveness. At a certain point in a student’s program, participation in assessment activities may be required prior to continuing registration. The results of such assessments may be used to require or recommend that a student take refresher or remedial course work or engage in other activity. In addition, the aggregate information obtained through such assessment instruments may be used to improve the quality of the educational experience for all Clayton State University students.

GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES

The general education portion of the Core Curriculum is especially important at Clayton State University because general education forms the foundation for all specific programs of study. Specifically, the University’s mission commits it to providing “career-oriented education with a solid liberal arts foundation.” After completing the courses in Areas A-E at Clayton State, students will be able to exhibit effective performance in communication and critical thinking, the learning outcomes that the faculty has identified as the essential elements of a superior general education. The abilities to think critically and communicate effectively are the foundation outcomes of general education, and these outcomes are stressed in major programs as well as in the Core Curriculum.

The Communication Outcome

Communication is much more than setting forth information: it involves an interchange of ideas or thoughts between a sender and a recipient. Whether the communication takes the form of a written paper or report, a letter, an oral presentation, or a problem-solving discussion in a small group, the ultimate goal is a clear, meaningful exchange of ideas between the sender(s) and recipient(s). Regardless of its purpose or its form, communication is characterized by the following five components:

Knowledge Base

Awareness of Recipient

Organization

Mechanics/Delivery

Style

The Critical Thinking Outcome

Critical Thinking is a systematic process used to find the answers to questions as well as to solve problems or reach informed decisions. The purpose of critical thought can be to reach a judgment based on careful reflection (e.g., reacting to a work of art or a poem) or to fulfill a very specific goal (deciding whether or not to administer a particular drug to a patient). It is important for each of us to develop the ability to think critically as well as to evaluate the quality of the critical thinking of others. No matter what the purpose for critical thought, it is characterized by the following four components:

Question/Issue

Method

Evidence

Conclusion

General Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Requirements

In order to graduate with a baccalaureate or associate degree from Clayton State University, a student must meet all of the following general requirements. Specific programs may have additional requirements.

1. Core Curriculum. All baccalaureate degree graduates and all A.A. and A.S. degree graduates must complete Areas A-F of the Core Curriculum. A.A.S. graduates must complete the portions of Areas A-F as listed for the specific program. Areas A-F of Core Curriculum for all majors are listed in the catalog chapters for each school.

Guidelines for the Core Curriculum are established by the University System of Georgia in order to insure a solid general education foundation for all graduates. Courses taken within the Core are guaranteed to transfer within the University System in accordance with BOR guidelines. Most of Areas A-E of the Core are “major free,” meaning that they will apply regardless of major; however, certain majors do have specific mathematics and science requirements in Areas A and D. (Students with questions about acceptance of Clayton State University courses should contact the Transfer Ombudsperson, Associate VPAA, at 770-961-3538.)

The basic areas of the Core are as follows (see the chapters for each school for specific course listings in Areas A-F):

Essential Skills

courses in mathematics and English composition

Critical Thinking and Communication

courses in critical thinking, communications (including computer skills), and foreign language. (The University System refers to Area B as “Institutional Options.”)

Humanities (including intermediate foreign language)

Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology

Social Sciences

Courses Related to the Major Program of Study

2. Major Requirements. Each graduate must complete all curriculum and related requirements for one specific major as listed in the appropriate chapter of the catalog. In addition to courses, graduation requirements may include GPA minimums, experiential learning, residency regulations, assessments, examinations, remedial work, or other requirements as explained in the catalog or official program handbooks. (Bachelor’s degree students who are referred to WLAB 2999 must satisfactorily complete the course in order to graduate even if they are allowed to complete all other requirements first.)

3. Total Hours Requirement. The student must have earned the total number of semester credit hours specified for his or her major. The minimum is 60 hours for the associate degree and 120 hours for the baccalaureate degree; some programs require more hours. (Exception: A student who completed part of his or her degree program under the quarter system at Clayton State University or another University System of Georgia institution will be allowed to graduate one or two hours short of the total if all other graduation requirements have been met and the shortage results from calculations made in the transition from quarters to semesters.)

4. Grade Point Average. The student must achieve an institutional GPA of at least 2.00 in the courses used to meet degree requirements. A student must be in good academic standing at the time of graduation.

5. Grade Requirements for ENGL 1101 and other courses. The student must have a grade of C or better (or K) in ENGL 1101 in order to graduate. In addition, the student must also meet any minimum grade requirements for the student's major including grade requirements embedded in prerequisites. (See the appropriate chapter of this catalog.)

6. Constitution and History Requirement. The student must complete the Georgia and U.S. Constitution and History requirement. (This is often called the "Legislative Requirement" since it is required by law.) The requirement is normally met by taking POLS 1101 and HIST 2110 in Area E of the Core Curriculum at Clayton State University.

Alternative methods to meet the legislative requirement include the following:

Passing HIST 3110, Georgia History and Government, at Clayton State University.

Passing CITZ 1001, Citizenship, at Clayton State University.

Passing American government and U.S. history courses by transfer from a non-University System of Georgia institution or earning credit by examination and passing Clayton State University’s Georgia History and Government competency examinations. Contact Assessment Services in the Learning Center (770-961-3445) for details.

Meeting the requirement at another institution of the University System of Georgia.

7. Residency Requirement. Residency refers to courses (including online courses) offered by Clayton State University. Transfer courses (including correspondence courses, on-line courses, transient courses, or cross-registration courses*) are not considered to be in residence. Credit by examination or experience is not considered to be in residence even if the examination was taken at Clayton State University.** (In this context, “residence” has nothing to do with a student’s residence for fee payment purposes.)

Associate degree. A minimum of 21 semester credit hours in residency is required. At least 12 of the 21 hours must be in Area F for the A.A. or A.S. or in program requirements other than electives for the A.A.S.

Baccalaureate degree: A minimum of 30 semester credit hours in residence at Clayton State University. At least 21 of the 30 must be upper division hours counted toward program requirements other than free electives. Individual schools of the University may specify additional residency requirements. (See the appropriate school chapter of this catalog for any additional residency requirements that apply to specific degrees and/or majors.)

* The Integrative Studies B.A./B.S. program has special provisions for counting some cross-registration courses as in residence.

** In exceptional cases, credit by exam designed and administered by Clayton State University may be counted toward residency if the credit is awarded as part of a designed plan approved in advance by the dean of the school of the student’s major.

NOTE: Certain residency requirements may be modified for students officially in the Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC) program.

8. Regents' Test. The University System of Georgia requires that each student receiving a degree must have successfully completed all parts of the Regents’ Test, a competency examination in reading and English composition. The Regents' Testing Program (RTP) of the University System of Georgia is administered at Clayton State University each semester through Assessment Services in the Learning Center. Testing dates for each semester are announced in the Schedule of Classes. For additional details, see the Regents' Test Policy heading later in this chapter.

9. Application for Graduation. All students pursuing a certificate or degree from Clayton State University must submit an Application for Graduation to the Registrar’s Office two semesters in advance of the intended graduation. The deadlines for submitting an application are June 1, for Fall; September 15, for Spring; and January 30, for Summer. Important Note: All graduation applications are based on semester requirements even if the student entered Clayton State University prior to the semester system. Quarter courses will be substituted into semester requirements as appropriate. Graduation may be delayed for students who fail to file their Graduation Applications on time.

Students may be graduated at the end of any semester in which they fulfill the degree requirements of the University. Formal commencement ceremonies are held in May and December each year. Diplomas are available for pick up in the Registrar's Office six to eight weeks after the end of the semester. Diplomas not picked up will be mailed to the current address on file.

General Certificate Requirements

To earn an academic certificate from Clayton State University, a student must meet the following general requirements in addition to the curricular requirements listed later in this catalog with the program of study.

Grade Point Average. Certificate graduates must have an Institutional Grade Point Average of 2.00 or better in the courses counted toward certificate requirements. A student must be in good academic standing at the time of graduation. If ENGL 1101 is counted toward the certificate, the graduate must have earned a grade of C or better (or K).

Residency. At least one-half of the credit hours applied to the certificate must be earned in residence at Clayton State University. Individual programs may have additional restrictions. (See the Residency item of the Degree Requirements section for the definition of residency.)

Application for Graduation. A student seeking to graduate with an academic certificate must file an Application for Graduation form with the University Registrar no later than the second week of the semester prior to the semester that the student plans to graduate. For example, a student who plans to graduate at the end of Spring Semester must file an application for graduation by the second week of Fall Semester.

Since full-time students can complete most certificates in two semesters, a full-time certificate student must apply for graduation immediately after beginning his or her certificate program. This advance notice is necessary to insure that all requirements will be satisfied and to allow time for processing. The appropriate documentation must be on file for any course substitutions required. Graduation may be delayed for students who fail to file their Graduation Applications on time.

Graduation Ceremony. Certificates are not awarded at the University’s formal commencement program for degrees; however, a certificate ceremony is normally held each Spring and may be scheduled at other times also. Certificates are available for pick up in the Registrar's Office six to eight weeks after the end of the semester. Certificates not picked up will be mailed to the current address on file.

Other Graduation Regulations

Semester System

Starting Fall Semester 1998 Clayton State University and the rest of the University System of Georgia began operating on the semester calendar system. For students who began their programs of study under the quarter system, appropriate course equivalencies and substitutions will be utilized to insure that the student is not penalized by the conversion process.

All graduation evaluations are based on semester requirements. (Students who completed Areas I-IV under quarters will not have the Core Curriculum reevaluated for semester requirements.) Graduation will be evaluated first in terms of specific course requirements and then in terms of total hours. The student must meet the total hour requirement except that shortages of less than three semester hours will be waived if the shortage is due to semester conversion calculations on University System of Georgia courses.

Second Degree

Any student wishing to receive a second or subsequent degree from Clayton State University must complete in residence at Clayton State University a minimum of 24 additional credit hours for the associate degree or 30 credit hours for the bachelor's degree. Hours counted for residency must apply to the requirements for second degree; free electives do not count toward second degree residency. Credit which has been used to satisfy the requirements of a previous degree cannot be applied toward the minimum resident hours needed for the second or subsequent degrees. Students must meet all requirements for the second degree, including prerequisite courses or skills. The graduation application process for a second degree is the same as for any degree. Specific "dual degree" programs listed in this catalog may have different residency requirements.

Graduation with Honors

See the Academic Honors heading in the Academic Information Chapter.

Licensure Programs

Certain programs are designed to satisfy the present educational requirements that enable students to take licensure examinations. (Current programs at Clayton State University include Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Middle Level Education, and Aviation Maintenance Technology.) It is possible that the licensing board may change requirements prior to a student’s completion of his or her course of study. While reasonable efforts will be made to enable students to satisfy additional requirements, no assurances can be made that the University will be able to offer additional courses or, if taken, that such courses will entitle students to take licensure examinations.

Physical Education

Clayton State University encourages students to enroll in appropriate physical education (PHED) courses in order to improve their overall health and wellness. The University has no general physical education requirement. tudents planning to transfer to institutions that require PHED may complete hours at Clayton State but should check with the receiving institution in advance to determine which courses are appropriate.

Policy on Catalog and Curriculum Requirements

Each student at Clayton State University is responsible for learning and observing all current, published regulations and procedures required by the University and by the program in which he or she is enrolled. A current, published regulation will not be waived nor will an exception be granted because a student pleads ignorance of the regulation or asserts that he or she was not informed of a specific requirement by a faculty advisor or by a University staff member.

Each student must become familiar with (1) this section of the academic catalog, (2) the offerings and requirements of his or her major or program of study as stated in the catalog and official program handbooks, and (3) the contents of the Semester Schedule of Classes, which may contain notices of changes in academic regulations or procedures.

While the provisions of the appropriate catalog will normally be applied as stated, Clayton State University reserves the right to change any provision listed in a catalog, including but not limited to academic requirements for graduation, without actual notice to individual students. Changes are often necessary in order to keep up with changing knowledge in fields and to improve instruction. In practice, this provision normally means that any courses that a student has already taken will continue to count toward graduation but that the University may change requirements for courses in the major program that the student has not yet taken.

The University will make a reasonable effort to keep students advised of any such changes, and information on changes made by the University will be published in the Semester Schedule of Classes, posted on the University website, and made available in the Office of the Registrar. Each student must be aware that it is his or her own responsibility to remain informed about current graduation requirements for his or her particular degree program.

A candidate for graduation is normally subject to the catalog requirements that are in effect at the time the student entered his or her major program. A student may elect to satisfy the graduation requirements specified in a subsequent catalog. (Required Learning Support students are not considered to be in a major program). A student not enrolled for two or more consecutive years is subject to the requirements in effect at the time of readmission. When changes in curriculum or other regulations are made and/or University course offerings are modified so that a student cannot finish the exact requirements of the applicable catalog, Clayton State University will endeavor to make appropriate substitutions so that a student can finish his or her degree requirements in a reasonably timely fashion. This assurance, however, does not bind Clayton State University to continue to offer any specific course, track, or major.

There is no time limit on course work completed in Areas A-E of the Core Curriculum. For all other courses, work completed more than ten years prior to the date of graduation may be credited toward the degree only in the following cases: (1) with the approval of the student's major department head/associate dean and dean, or (2) if the student's enrollment at Clayton State University has been continuous since initial enrollment, i.e., no interruption of two or more consecutive years.

Regent's Test Policy

Purpose

The Regents' Testing Program (RTP) is designed to certify the basic college-level competency in reading and writing of all students in institutions of the University System of Georgia. The Regents' Test is administered at a very limited number of specific times each semester. Students must register in advance for the Regents' Test. Consult the Semester Schedule of Classes for information on dates, time, and registration procedures.

Requirements for who must take the Regents’ Test

All associate degree and baccalaureate degree graduates of Clayton State University, with the exception of those cited in the paragraph on "Exceptions," shall exhibit competence in certain minimum skills in reading and writing by successfully completing the examinations of the Regents' Testing Program.

EXCEPTIONS: Any student who already holds a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education is not required to complete the Regents' Test in order to graduate from Clayton State University.

NOTE: Passing the Regents’ Test is not required to earn a certificate from Clayton State University; however, since the Regents’ Test is required for associate and bachelor’s degrees, certificate students who plan to go on for a degree are encouraged to take the Regents’ Test soon after completion of ENGL 1101.

Requirements for what semester the Regents’ Test must be taken

Students are required to take the Regents' Test during the next semester of enrollment after they have completed 30 semester hours of credit, if they have not already taken the test and passed both parts (reading and essay).

Students may choose to take the Regents' Test before they have earned 30 credit hours; however, students are encouraged not to take the Regents' Test prior to completion of English 1101, which includes practice for the test.

Test administration dates are published in the Semester Schedule of Classes (on paper and on the Clayton State University website) and are widely publicized on campus.

Policy for students who are required to take the Regents’ Test but haven’t done so

Students who are required to take the Regents' Test but have not done so by the end of the first semester after they have earned 30 semester credit hours will be placed on Regents' Test probation. Students who fail to take the Regents' Test while they are on Regents' Test probation are subject to suspension from the University.

Students who have earned 45 or more semester credit hours are subject to the above requirement, and in addition, prior to testing, they must enroll in RGTE 0199 and RGTR 0198 and must continue to take the appropriate remedial course(s) until both parts of the test are passed. Students in this category who fail to enroll in the required remediation courses will not be allowed to remain enrolled in any other courses for college credit.

Students required to take Learning Support courses may not take the Regents' exam until completion of Learning Support courses.

Requirements for students who have taken the Regents’ Test but have not been successful

Students who choose to take the Regents' Test before they have earned 30 hours of credit but who do not pass both parts are encouraged to take the appropriate remedial course(s) and retake the Regents' Test in the next semester of enrollment. They are not required to do so, however, until the semester after earning 30 hours of credit.

Any student who has completed at least 30 hours of credit and has failed one or both portions of the Regents’ Test must enroll in the appropriate remediation course(s) during the student’s next semester of attendance and must take the appropriate remedial course(s) in every semester of enrollment until both parts of the test are passed. Students enrolled in Regents’ Test remediation course(s) must take part(s) of the test appropriate to the course(s) in order to pass the course.

A student who is required to take Regents’ Test remediation will not be allowed to register for any course numbered 1000 or higher unless he or she is also enrolled in the appropriate Regents’ Test remediation course(s). A student may not withdraw from Regents’ Test remediation and remain in any course numbered 1000 or higher.

Students in this category who fail to retake the required part or parts of the Regents' Test during the first semester that they are required to do so will be placed on Regents' Test probation. Any student who fails to retest while on Regents' Test probation will be subject to suspension from the University.

Special provision for students transferring into Clayton State University

Having passed the Regents' Testing Program shall not be a condition of transfer into Clayton State University. Transferring students from within the University System of Georgia shall be subject to all provisions of this policy. Students with 30 or more college-level semester credit hours transferring from System programs that do not require the Regents' Test or from institutions outside the System are required to take the test no later than the second semester of enrollment in programs leading to a degree, and in subsequent semesters shall be subject to all provisions of this policy.

Special accommodations for disabled and English as a second language students

Students who declared on their application for admission to the University that English is their second language and who presented evidence of English proficiency at that time may be eligible for special accommodations on the Regents' Test. Students must contact the Registrar's Office to determine eligibility.

Disabled students whose disability prohibits participation in the standard administration of the Test should contact Diversity and Disability Services to arrange special test procedures. Appropriate provision for remediation will be made for persons not passing components of the Test. Procedures for the administration of the Test and subsequent remediation, if necessary, will vary depending on the individual handicap. These students are otherwise subject to all provisions of the policy.

Procedures for review

A student's essay will be reviewed if the essay received at least one passing score among the three scores awarded. The review will be conducted by three faculty members designated by Clayton State University as a review panel.

A student must participate in the required remediation and retesting even though his or her essay is in the process of being reviewed.

The review panel may by majority opinion uphold the failing score and thus end the review process or may by majority opinion recommend that the essay be rescored by the Regents' Testing Program Central Office.

If the review panel recommends rescoring of the essay, that recommendation will be transmitted in writing with a copy of the essay to the Office of the System Director of the Regents' Testing Program. Three experienced Regents' essay scorers not involved in the initial scoring will follow the normal procedures for scoring the essay portion of the Regents' Test. The decision of this panel will be final. Clayton State University will notify the student of the result if the rescored essay passes.

Questions about the Regents’ Test

All questions concerning scheduling and administering of the Regents' Test should be directed to the Assessment Center in the Learning Center.

All questions concerning Regents' Test policy and requirements should be directed to the Regents' Test Coordinator in the Department of Learning Support.

In these fields, Clayton State University offers the first two years of study as approved by the University System of Georgia for baccalaureate degrees to be completed at another public university in Georgia. Since Clayton State University is fully accredited, most courses will also apply to these fields at private colleges and universities or at public institutions in other states; however, to confirm transferability students should consult the catalogs of the institutions to which they plan to transfer.

Students who complete all courses in a specified program of study (Areas A-F) plus other graduation requirements will be awarded Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees in Core Curriculum. However, it is important to note that completion of an A.A. or A.S. is not necessary to transfer.

Transfer Program

Advising School

Agricultural and Environmental Science

Arts & Sciences

Allied Health Professions*

Health Sciences

Anthropology (See Sociology.)

Art

Arts & Sciences

Business Education (See Teacher Education.)

Chemistry

Arts & Sciences

Computer Science

Arts & Sciences

Criminal Justice

Arts & Sciences

Economics

Arts & Sciences

Engineering

Arts & Sciences

Engineering Technology*

Arts & Sciences

English

Arts & Sciences

Environmental Science (See Agricultural and Environmental Science.)

Forestry

Arts & Sciences

French

Arts & Sciences

Geography*

Arts & Sciences

Geology*

Arts & Sciences

Health (See a Health Sciences advisor.)

Health Information Management (See Allied Health.)

Health Sciences

History

Arts & Sciences

Journalism and Mass Communication

Arts & Sciences

Mathematics

Arts & Sciences

Medical Technology*

Health Sciences

Music**

Arts & Sciences

Occupational Therapy*

Health Sciences

Pharmacy (pre-)

Arts & Sciences

Philosophy

Arts & Sciences

Physical Therapy (see Applied Biology, B.S.)

Arts & Sciences

Physics

Arts & Sciences

Political Science

Arts & Sciences

Recreation (See Health Sciences advisor.)

Sociology

Arts & Sciences

Spanish

Arts & Sciences

Speech

Arts & Sciences

Teacher Education**

Arts & Sciences

Theater

Arts & Sciences

Undecided (See an advisor in the Counseling & Career Center.)

* Clayton State University may not offer all of the courses necessary for the University System Area F in these fields; however, the University does offer most of the appropriate Core Curriculum classes.

** The A.A. programs in Music and Teacher Education are for students who plan to transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree in specific areas not offered by Clayton State University.

Career Programs - Applied Associate Degrees and Certificates

Note: Certificate programs that lead to career associate degrees are indented under the related associate program.